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The competition heats up with the latest season of "Jeopardy! Masters," a tournament featuring the best-of-the-best "Jeopardy!" players, hosted by Ken Jennings. Season 4 sees six of the top contestants return to the game show floor to go head-to-head to compete for the $500,000 grand prize and title of "Jeopardy! Masters" champion. Hosted by Jennings, the fourth annual "Jeopardy! Masters" tournament will return to ABC on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. EDT and stream next day on Hulu. "Jeopardy! Masters" is the highly competitive culmination of the "Jeopardy!" season, featuring the year's elite "Jeopardy!" champions as they face off for the grand prize of $500,000. The lineup of top players is as follows: reigning "Jeopardy! Masters" champion Yogesh Raut and returning finalists Juveria Zaheer and Victoria Groce, 2026 "Jeopardy!" Tournament of Champions winner Paolo Pasco, and 2026 "Jeopardy!" Invitational Tournament winner Andrew He and runner-up Long Nguyen. Andrew He will make his return to the "Jeopardy! Masters" stage after competing in the first edition of the tournament. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and executive-produced by Michael Davies. The 2026 "Jeopardy! Masters" tournament will air across the following nine episodes: |
posted 9/24/2026 |
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Simon Cowell will step away from America’s Got Talent for several weeks as he undergoes back surgery. The longtime AGT judge reportedly faces no new health crisis, though past back problems followed a terrifying 2020 accident. His absence will leave a noticeable gap at the judges’ table. Cowell has anchored the competition since 2016 and remains one of television’s most recognizable talent judges. For now, however, his recovery will take priority over the next round of AGT filming. TMZ reported that Cowell plans to undergo a routine back procedure soon. Sources with direct knowledge told the outlet that surgery will sideline him for several weeks. The report offered reassurance about the Simon Cowell surgery. Sources indicated that doctors had not identified a new major health emergency. Still, Cowell has a difficult history with serious back injuries. In 2020, Cowell fell from a powerful electric bike. The accident broke his back and reportedly nearly left him paralyzed. He then underwent six hours of surgery to repair several fractures. His spinal cord narrowly escaped injury. Reports later suggested that Cowell continued experiencing intermittent back problems. The upcoming procedure will reportedly address those lingering issues. |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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The Wall has made the climb to a major milestone. The feel-good game show is about to reach its 100th episode on August 24. Executive produced by LeBron James, the NBC staple sees contestants from all walks of life answer trivia questions for upwards of $12 million on the line. Teammates work in tandem with hopes of building the largest cash prize they can. Correct answers bring green balls down the four-story Plinko-like structure to add to the total while incorrect responses bring out the dreaded red ball of doom that brings their potential winnings down. A single drop could be worth $3 million, which only adds to the drama. Then it’s a matter of blind trust where one partner stays in isolation behind the wall while the other loved one remains onstage choosing drop zones. Viewers watch the rollercoaster ride play out seeing if the ultimate cash buyout contract is accepted or the guaranteed contract gets signed. Right there for every moment during the last decade for six seasons and counting has been Chris Hardwick. For the Emmy-winning show host, its connection goes beyond the monetary. Players have taken in more than $35 million ion the show. But it’s about the people, the stories, and what that life-changing money means as families have paid off debt, funded adoptions, helped charitable causes, and communities. The upcoming 100th episode features Ellie, a dance teacher from Arkansas, who honored her late grandfather by baking 600 pies and generating more than $20,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She’ll team up with her husband Nick with hopes they serve up some serious money. |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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Shelley Fabares has died at the age of 82. Fabares first enjoyed success on The Donna Reed Show, where she played daughter Mary. She also had a brief career as a singer. Later, she starred in the sitcom Coach as Christine Armstrong. She also appeared in three movies with Elvis Presley. The Coach alum’s family — including her husband, M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell — confirmed her death in a statement. They said Fabares died on Saturday, Aug. 22, in Los Angeles surrounded by her loved ones. “To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” Fabares’ family said. “She was a devoted wife, cherished stepmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, family member, and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor, and grace made an enduring difference in the lives of everyone who knew her. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.” “For millions, Shelley was a beloved actress whose work became part of the fabric of American television and film,” they continued. “From her memorable role as Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show, where she also launched a successful recording career with her number one hit, ‘Johnny Angel,’ to her appearances opposite Elvis Presley in three films, her beloved role on Coach, and her many other television and film performances, she brought talent, intelligence, and warmth to every performance. But to those closest to her, her greatest legacy was personal: the love she gave so freely, the friendships she treasured, and the family bonds she held dear.” Farrell and family added that they “will remember Shelley for her kindness, loyalty, wit, courage and beautiful spirit.” “We will miss her deeply — not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives. We are heartbroken by her loss, yet profoundly grateful for the years we shared with her and for the joy, compassion, and love she brought to so many. We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve. We take comfort in knowing that Shelley’s work and the memories she created with those who loved her will continue to live on,” the statement concluded. Her aunt Nanette Fabray (who changed the family’s last name to the phonetic spelling) was already a working actress. Fabares’ mother got her into modeling at the age of 3, and at 10 years old in 1954, she made her TV debut in Letter to Loretta. The life of a child actor, she told The Roanoke Times in 1994, could be tough. “It’s hard to know who you are and what you are,” she explained. “The things that go into the making of a child — you’re not totally disciplined, you don’t always behave, you have a sense of freedom — those things are not allowed on a set.” In 1958, she began starring in The Donna Reed Show as Mary Stone, the teenage daughter of Reed’s Donna and Carl Betz’s Dr. Alex. The family was completed by son and brother Jeff, played by Paul Petersen. Fabares became extremely close to Reed, telling PEOPLE in 1984, ”She was a role model before I knew what a role model was.” During the 1961-1962 season, producer Tony Owen, who was also Reed’s husband, decided to incorporate singing into the show via Peterson and Fabares. “I remember saying, ‘Mr. Owen, Paul can do it. He can do anything,’ ” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. “Maybe a month later, he came up to me one day and said, ‘Hey, kid. Do you like being on the show? Do you want to be on next year?’ Not seeing the train heading directly toward me, I said, ‘Oh, yes, Mr. Owen. I do.’ Then he said, ‘Sing.’ ” Fabares’ song “Johnny Angel” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. She also released four albums. She married music producer Lou Adler in 1964. They separated two years later, but Fabares wouldn’t file for divorce until 1978. It was finalized in 1980. During season 5 of The Donna Reed Show, Fabares’ Mary went to college and appeared less regularly on the show. The series ended in 1966. Other shows she appeared on included Police Story, The Rockford Files, The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote. In game shows, she was featured on episodes of The Hollywood Squares, The Magnificent Marble Machine, and Wheel of Fortune. Coach premiered in 1989, and Fabares starred opposite Craig T. Nelson, who played the title role, Coach Hayden Fox. The on-again, off-again romance between their characters was one of the show’s main plots, and Fabares was pleased to play “a very successful, ambitious woman,” she told the Orlando Sentinel in 1989. ” In 1984, she married M*A*S*H alum Farrell, now 87, in a ceremony at her aunt’s home. “There is a light inside her that is just magical,” Farrell told PEOPLE in 1991. “I find her a constant source of rejuvenation.” She said, “Mike grounds me, and I think I pull him out sometimes. It’s a nice mix.” She also became stepmother to his children, Michael and Erin, from his previous marriage. Outside of acting, Fabares was involved with fundraising for Alzheimer’s research, and Farrell campaigned for an array of human rights causes. “I travel around the country, make speeches, do fundraising, testify before Congress — things that I never thought I would ever do,” she told The Roanoke Times. “It is so far out of the realm of what I thought I would be doing with my life. But I had the example of what Mike has done with his life. My experience with the Alzheimer’s Association has been one of the most rewarding of my life.” In 2000, Fabares received a liver transplant after she was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. “She’s a tough cookie,” Farrell told PEOPLE at the time. Fabares is survived by her husband and stepchildren. |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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Vasha Wallace to Exit Fremantle |
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Fremantle‘s long-serving global formats chief Vasha Wallace is laving the Got Talent firm. In a note sent to external colleagues, she wrote that she was preparing to hand over to colleagues in September. At that point she would exit to become an international consultant, leaving behind her role as Fremantle’s Executive VP of Global Acquisitions and Development. “I have been enormously lucky and grateful to work with a brilliant, ridiculously talented bunch of people over the last two decades,” she wrote. “These creative collaborations are exactly why we’ve managed to make such a success of what we do, across a constantly challenging and changing landscape.” Wallace, who began her career at Sky TV in New Zealand, joined RTL-owned Fremantle in 2004 when it was known as FremantleMedia. She steadily rose through the ranks, developing and distributing shows such as Farmer Wants a Wife, The Apprentice and Project Runway. On the acquisitions front, she fronted production multi-territory production deals on the likes of The Masked Singer, The Traitors and I Can See Your Voice. “Next up: I’m building myself a portfolio career, which is a fancy way of saying ‘doing several interesting things at once and hoping it all comes together,'” she wrote. “Part of that will be consulting in international television, so our paths will continue to cross. I’m rather excited about it. “I am proud of what we have all built together and of being part of a world-class global formats team rolling out thousands of shows around the world. When I first joined, we took a British show about lonely farmers looking for love, and transformed it into the global format, Farmer Wants a Wife, while The Apprentice made business dreams come true internationally.” |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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Sharna Burgess to Return to "Dancing" |
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Dancing With the Stars is welcoming Sharna Burgess back into its professional dancer slate for season 35 this September. The upcoming installment will mark her return to the ballroom after five years away from the series. Burgess’ most recent appearance on the show was in 2021 for season 30, where she was partnered with her fiancé Brian Austin Green. Burgess is no stranger to the ballroom; she has competed in 14 seasons of Dancing, and infamously won season 27 alongside Bobby Bones. Her return to the show was widely speculated as she’s partaken in multiple Dancing-related events and appearances as of late, including DWTS Con. |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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Deal! ... in Germany |
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We say yes to this deal: “Deal or No Deal” is coming back to SAT.1 in 2027! In the new edition of the game show classic, Jörg Pilawa gambles with his guests for up to 100,000 euros. Only those who show strong nerves, a willingness to take risks and a lucky hand will get closer to the maximum win step by step. “Deal or No Deal” is simple and timeless: Due to the enormous drop between one cent and 100,000 euros, each suitcase promises pure thrills. In SAT.1, the show looks back on a successful history: Between 2004 and 2008 and 2014/2015, “Deal or No Deal” regularly generated ratings far above the SAT.1 channel average on various broadcasting slots. This is how “Deal or No Deal” works: 22 suitcases. 22 hidden prize sums between one cent and 100,000 euros. At the beginning of each episode, the candidate chooses a suitcase. The remaining 21 suitcases will be opened one by one. The more small amounts are eliminated from the game, the higher the chance that the selected suitcase will contain a large sum of winnings – and vice versa. After each round of the game, the bank makes a secure offer in exchange for the selected suitcase. If it is accepted, the game ends immediately. Otherwise, they will continue to gamble until only one suitcase remains. “Deal or No Deal” is a production of Banijay Productions Germany. Production will take place in Cologne from September 14, 2026. |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta has canceled planned settlement talks with Paramount over the state’s lawsuit seeking to block David Ellison‘s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, accusing Paramount of acting in bad faith. The two sides had been due to meet Monday for preliminary discussions for a possible settlement, but Bonta called off the meeting late Sunday, after accusing Paramount of misrepresenting details of an earlier meeting held on Friday. “Not only did Paramount leak the alleged substance of settlement discussions, but they misrepresented these discussions, demonstrating a lack of good faith,” Bonta said in a statement, first reported by The New York Times, and obtained by Variety. “As soon as Paramount stops playing games and engages sincerely, my office is happy to meet again.” Paramount has requested a court order that would require a group of 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America to post a $1.88 billion bond to cover financial damages as their litigation delays the closing of its pending $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Paramount Skydance released a statement Monday after Bonta abruptly canceled the two sides’ planned meeting, alleging Paramount had leaked confidential discussions about the Warner Bros. Discovery case. “We share AG Bonta’s concerns about the public discussions and misreporting that has surrounded this deal,” Paramount said in a statement sent to Variety. “As we have assured the Attorney General’s office, Paramount has not been the source of the leaks of any of our confidential discussions with the AG’s office. We remain hopeful and stand ready to continue good-faith discussions to resolve the Attorneys General suit and move forward with our plans for increased competition and increased output to the benefit of the talent and entertainment workers.” The bond amount is based on the straightforward calculation of the maximum potential ticking fee consideration and other financing costs. Per the terms of the merger, CEO David Ellison is on the hook to pay WBD shareholders a 25 cent per share ticking fee starting Oct. 1, which translates to a payout of $7 million per day or $650 million per quarter until the deal closes. The final deadline for the deal to close is June 4, 2027. Paramount has agreed to delay the closing until five days after the outcome of a trial, or June 1, 2027, whichever comes earliest. The antitrust trial is set to start on March 2 and end on March 19, 2027. By the time trial concludes and the parties submit their final briefs, Paramount expects to pay WBD shareholders at least $1.3 billion in ticking fees. It also said that the delay threatens to nullify the regulatory approvals that Paramount has spent months securing, noting that it would have to take additional steps at “substantial expense” if the transaction still hasn’t closed by the end of the trial. “We have satisfied all closing conditions under our merger agreement, having received regulatory clearances from 68 jurisdictions. These two lawsuits are the only barrier to closing this transaction,” a Paramount spokesperson told TheWrap. “Both the Clayton Act, the federal antitrust law upon which these suits are based, and other federal law expressly provide that plaintiffs are required to post a bond covering the potential harm from halting a transaction to litigate, so that if they lose, the injured party has a source of recovery for the damage caused. Here, every month of delay carries substantial and quantifiable financial consequences.” In addition to the financing costs and ticking fee, the Ellison-led media giant warned that there would be “no integration and no ramped-up investment in content, production, and creative talent by the combined company” for at least eight months. The spokesperson also said that employees of both companies would be harmed by the uncertainties caused by the delay. “We remain confident that plaintiffs’ case is without merit and will defend our pro-competitive transaction in court,” Paramount’s statement concluded. “We look forward to closing this transaction and delivering its benefits to consumers and entertainment industry workers in California, the United States and around the world.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office responded to the bond request in a statement to media later Monday, saying that it was an additional “blackmail” effort “to get us to back down” from going to trial. “Paramount and Warner Bros. are two sophisticated companies who willfully decided to include a costly ticking fee as a provision in their merger contract,” the statement read. “They knew this merger would undergo regulatory review; they knew it was not a done deal; and they chose to include it anyway. “What’s more, Paramount itself stipulated to the timing it is now protesting — they agreed to the dates and did not request a bond as a condition of agreeing not to close until after the trail, and potentially as late as June 2027. Now, they’re trying to get a do-over. “Bottom line: Paramount went into this process with eyes wide open. They are lying a bed of their own making, and once again, trying to blackmail us to get us to back down.” MEANWHILE...
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posted 8/24/2026 |
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This week, “Big Brother” will make history by being the first primetime show to hit 1,000 episodes. And in true “Big Brother” fashion, the show is celebrating that milestone with a twisty, one-of-a-kind 90-minute episode that will air Thursday, Aug. 27. “It’s been really interesting and fun to think about how to celebrate the show,” executive producer Allison Grodner tells Variety. “We want to take some time at the beginning to really reflect on the past and, through fan engagement, have some fun reveals of polls that were taken of favorite moments, favorite winners and people that should have won.” BIG BROTHER celebrates its 1000th episode live on Thursday, August 27 (8:00-9:30 PM live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+, marking the first time a primetime television series has reached this milestone. The historic night will feature surprise appearances from former Houseguests determined by interactive fan votes and kick off the biggest twist of the summer. The episode will look back at some of the most memorable moments from the show's historic 26-year run and shift into overdrive with the BB Blockbuster and a live eviction. Details to be announced in the coming weeks. "We are thrilled and honored to be celebrating this unprecedented milestone," said executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan. "It would not have been possible without all of the hardworking and talented people behind the scenes who make up our BIG BROTHER family. This achievement belongs to them, the hundreds of brave houseguests who have walked through the front door, our iconic host, Julie Chen Moonves, and of course, our passionate fans." "Never did I ever expect the unexpected," said host Julie Chen Moonves. "When we launched season one, there were rumors we could get canceled midseason because we didn't have the same ratings as SURVIVOR. And now look at us, Ma! Two former SURVIVOR players are currently on our show, including a former winner, Dee. Although the past 28 seasons feel like the blink of an eye, it doesn't look that way when you see all the fashion trends and hairstyles I've worn through the decades. That's the dead giveaway for how long we've been around! I am humbled and grateful for this momentous occasion. May God allow BIG BROTHER to continue for at least another 1,000 original episodes, with more Zings, new Houseguests, and countless HOH competitions still to come!" The milestone celebration comes amid a strong season for BIG BROTHER, which has posted a +14% increase in premiere-week Live+3 viewership versus last summer and delivered four straight weeks of audience growth since the July 9 premiere. |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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Jo Gardiner, star of the second season of Race Across the World, died August 21. She was 61. Gardiner’s family said she died after a “long and courageous battle with cancer.” Her passing comes a year after her son, Sam, lost his life in a car crash. Jo and Sam competed together in Race Across the World, traversing Latin America for the BBC reality competition series, produced by Studio Lambert. They became firm favorites among fans of the show, finishing fourth in their race. “She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves,” Jo’s family said in a statement, shared with BBC News. “She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best. To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.” In a statement, Studio Lambert and the BBC said: “We offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends. “Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family. “At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her. Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.” |
posted 8/24/2026 |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
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Happy Friday Lightning Round |
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Food Network Gets Ready for Spooky Season |
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This year Food Network is taking its fan favorite Halloween competitions to a terrifying new level that will deliver eye-popping bakes, dramatic twists and disturbingly delicious creations. First up, on Sunday, September 13th, at 9 p.m. ET/PT Halloween Wars will return with host Jonathan Bennett and a "Back from the Dead" theme featuring all-star expert pumpkin carving artists, sugar masters, and cake mavens who will face more difficult challenges than ever before. Then, on Monday, September 14th at 9 p.m. ET/PT Halloween Baking Championship, helmed by host John Henson, will be set in the Museum of Unnatural History where eerie exhibits will inspire artistic yet blood-curdling challenges worthy of display. Episodes of both series will stream the next day on HBO Max. Halloween Wars kicks off its "Back from the Dead" season on Sunday, September 13th, at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a supersized two-hour premiere featuring returning all-star pumpkin carvers, cake artists and sugar masters hoping to defend their titles while others will be on the hunt for redemption. The premiere launches with two rounds of nail-biting competition, beginning with terrifying head-to-head battles that could put even the strongest teams of former champions in jeopardy. As the pressure rises, emotions boil over and the losing teams will face a brutal "Do or Die" round two showdown where one team will be eliminated. This year host Jonathan Bennett will be joined by judges Shinmin Li and Andrew Fuller who will evaluate each team's spectacular compositions throughout the season and ultimately award $30,000 to the winning team. Over on Food Network's social platforms, host Jonathan Bennett will attempt mini-Halloween challenges and judges Shinmin Li and Andrew Fuller will share tips and tricks for easier home baking. Join the conversation using #HalloweenWars. Then, on Monday, September 14th at 9 p.m. ET/PT Halloween Baking Championship returns with ten bakers vying for the title of champion and a $25,000 prize. The two-hour premiere unveils the setting for this year's competition, the grand foyer of the Museum of Unnatural History, where frightening collections like Possessed Pests, Demon Masks, and a Vault of Bones beckon down every hall. Curator and host John Henson will lead the unsuspecting bakers through an arresting series of challenges inspired by the creepy exhibits. If the competitors' desserts impress judges Stephanie Boswell, Aarti Sequeira, and Zac Young, they may survive to see another midnight, otherwise they'll have to bake for their lives. Through it all, they'll face a gauntlet of otherworldly wonders until the last baker standing wins. For the first Haunted Heat of the season, the bakers must put their best spooky memories to work to create desserts honoring their "Best Halloween Ever." The winner receives $1,000 and the top three bakers are safe while the remaining competitors face a "Bake for Your Life" challenge to create "Hideous Mask Desserts" inspired by the disfigured mask collection in the Hall of Humanity. The least successful baker will be eliminated. Fans can see how the judges' most-impressive costumes come to life and join them behind the scenes to see how they spend a day on set by following #HalloweenBakingChampionship across Food Network's social platforms. They can also visit FoodNetwork.com to learn more about the competitors and stay up to date on Halloween Baking Championship news. Halloween Baking Championship is produced by Sonic Dog and Halloween Wars is produced by Super Delicious for Food Network. |
posted 8/20/2026 |
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Keller/Noll Goes Vertical |
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Prolific gameshow format creators Cleve Keller and Dave Noll, whose Keller/Noll production company is behind hit franchises including Chopped, America Says and Flip Side, are turning their hand to shortform. Keller/Noll is partnering with Atlanta-based Crazy Legs Productions on Do You See What Eye See, a traditional shiny-floor quizshow with micro-episodes designed for mobile audiences. Do You See What Eye See combines fast-paced gameplay and brand integration opportunities into micro-episodes running less than two minutes each. The team is currently in discussions with a range of global brands regarding sponsorship opportunities and direct integrations into the gameplay. In each short installment, contestants race against the clock to solve clues hidden within images created by a group of graphic designers. The categories include movie titles, television shows, songs, books and celebrity names. Contestants must correctly identify three clues within 60 seconds to win. “Every aspect of Do You See What Eye See was designed for the way audiences consume content today,” said Keller. “The episodes are under two minutes, the gameplay is immediate and engaging, and the format naturally accommodates brand integrations. Most importantly, it’s built specifically for vertical viewing on a phone screen.” Do You See What Eye See represents the latest project between Keller/Noll and Crazy Legs, which as a full-service production company has provided the creators with its expertise on Georgia’s producer tax breaks and studio-based television series. |
posted 8/20/2026 |
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Fixing a Broken Tax Problem |
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With a very hard out of less than two weeks, state legislators in Sacramento are either going to be Scrooge or Santa with California’s film and TV tax incentives for the near-moribund L.A. industry. It’s a mixed result right now with a lot of good intentions, a lot of cooks in the kitchen and the legislative session ending on August 31. In the past few hours alone, with studios and indies panicked about effectively losing lucrative annual $750 million industry incentives by 2030, a mission to fix the mega-measure that’s already signed into law and caps out business and corporate tax credits over $5 million went from launch to being stuck on the legislative tarmac. A deal was in place Thursday morning that would have carved out an exception for independent productions and some studio/streamer productions. In fact, with an anticipated backlash from Silcon Valley, the deal looked so done the MPA late last night circulated a talking points one-pager on it to stakeholders and media outlets. However, as the final language was being put in place by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur’s office today, legislative leadership told the Hollywood Democrat they were now taking a “different approach,” Deadline reports. A move that pulled the plug, hard. There are no definitive details on what that new approach is, or whether it could end as a fast-tracked trailer bill, a policy carve-out or something else. But sources tell me there were “indications” from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “team” that Zbur’s proposal wasn’t what they had in mind. |
posted 8/20/2026 |
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Charter, Cox Close |
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Charter Communications’ $34.5 billion merger with Cox officially closed on Thursday morning. The Spectrum brand and pricing will now come to Cox markets in mid-September, with the combined entity taking the Cox Communications name within a year of closing. The company will also remain headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and will maintain a significant presence on Cox’s Atlanta campus. The move, which received approval from the FCC and regulators across 45 states where the companies do business, creates the nation’s largest Internet and video provider by subscriber base. “The addition of Cox to the Spectrum footprint is one that can be celebrated by customers, employees and investors alike,” Charter president and CEO Chris Winfrey said in a statement. “Together, we will bring the best products, at the best price, coupled with the highest level of customer service to more customers across our expanded 45-state Spectrum footprint. And Cox employees will soon have access to all the programs and benefits that have made Charter an employer of choice where its 100% U.S.-based employees can build long-term careers.” |
posted 8/20/2026 |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
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"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" delivered 4.41 million Total Viewers with its most recent episode, rising week to week for the third consecutive week (+2%; vs. 4.33 million) as the show heads into its final week of the summer run. Scoring a new season high among Total Viewers (4.41 million), "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" earned the show's best performance in over a year - since Matt Damon and Ken Jennings' $1 million win on 7/30/25. · tanding once again as the most-watched show on Wednesday night, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" led its closest competition, CBS' "Big Brother-Wed.," by +28% among Total Viewers (4.41 million vs. 3.44 million ). In addition, for the third week in a row, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" was the No. 1 primetime entertainment program among Total Viewers, leading its closest competitor for the week, NBC's "America's Got Talent" by +19% (4.41 million vs. 3.98 million on 8/11/26). Heading into its final episode of summer, this week's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," airing Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on ABC and streaming next day on Hulu, welcomes comedians Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, who team up, followed by actress and rapper Awkwafina and director Paul Feig. The show returns with new episodes Wednesday, Oct. 7 (9 p.m. EDT/PDT). |
posted 8/19/2026 |
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"Love Island USA" Breaks Its Own Record |
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Ariana Madix is teasing the upcoming Love Island USA Season 8 reunion and revealing that there will be an unseen footage show. The special was filmed on August 10 and is set to stream on Peacock on Monday, August 31 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, but the dating series host gave insight into what viewers can expect. “Everybody came there ready to say exactly how they feel, and if they had a chip on their shoulder or something they wanted to bring up, they were ready to come and talk about it,” the Emmy-nominated host told Entertainment Weekly. According to Peacock, Season 8 of the reality dating series has reached nearly 19 billion minutes watched to date, spanning 35 episodes released between June 2 and July 13 — making it the streamer’s most-watched original season ever. Divided by the season’s nearly 40-hour runtime, that total translates to an estimate of close to 7.9 million views. First-party data also indicates that 30% of the seasons’ viewership came from phones and tablets, one of Peacock’s biggest mobile audiences ever. Additionally, 35% of viewers were new to the series, not having watched previous seasons, and nearly half of viewers watched the series with at least one other person. And “Aftersun,” Peacock’s “Love Island” aftershow hosted by Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa saw a 135% increase compared to last season. By Nielsen’s measure, “Love Island USA” Season 8 is the most-watched streaming series of summer 2026 in addition to being the No. 1 streaming reality title for six consecutive weeks. These superlatives were calculated based on data measured between May 25 and July 12; Nielsen operates on a multi-week delay for streaming titles. Unsurprisingly, the season has been a phenomenon on social media. Per Social Content Ratings, it generated more than 5 billion video views across platforms, and more than 2.5 billion views came from TikTok — marking a 47% increase from Season 7 and accounting for 68% of Season 8’s total social engagement. On the “Love Island USA” app, where viewers can vote on multiple outcomes including which contestants get to stay on the show, there was an 85% increase in users and a 35% increase in voters compared to Season 7. Both the show’s app and the Peacock app reached No. 1 on the App Store during the run of Season 8. News of “Love Island” Season 8’s ratings success comes ahead of the reunion special on Aug. 31, which will be hosted by Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen on Peacock. |
posted 8/19/2026 |
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